On January 31, 2022, a 9-month-old female infant was brought to UW Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin with head injuries and was later pronounced deceased. Medical professionals determined the death was consistent with non-accidental head trauma, with the cause of death identified as blunt force trauma to the head. According to a news report citing court documents, a woman—believed to be the infant's grandmother based on the agency's substantiated neglect finding—left the baby alone in an apartment with a 9-year-old girl for approximately three hours. The 9-year-old told investigators she had placed the baby on the floor, left to get water, forgot the baby was on the floor, and stepped on the child's head. Security video confirmed the woman had not returned to the apartment before rescue personnel were called. The agency substantiated physical abuse by an unnamed maltreater and neglect by the grandmother, while finding insufficient evidence to substantiate neglect by the mother and father. No criminal charges had been filed as of the reporting date, though the criminal investigation remained open.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
The news article states that "a woman may have left the baby alone with a 9-year-old girl for a considerable amount of time on Jan. 31" and that "Police have reviewed security video from the apartment building and said it appeared the woman had left the apartment about three hours before rescue personnel were called and did not return." The 90-day summary report substantiated "neglect of the infant by the grandmother," confirming that the infant was left without appropriate adult supervision.
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The 90-day summary report states that "Medical professionals determined the death consistent with non-accidental head trauma." The agency "found a preponderance of evidence to substantiate physical abuse of the infant by an unnamed maltreater." The news article further describes that the 9-year-old girl told investigators she "stepped on the child's head." The Dane County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed "the cause of her death was blunt force trauma to her head."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
The 90-day summary report states that "Medical professionals determined the death consistent with non-accidental head trauma." Non-accidental head trauma is a clinical synonym for abusive head trauma.
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
The 90-day summary report states the agency "found a preponderance of evidence to substantiate...neglect of the infant by the grandmother." The grandmother is an adult relative of the child. The news article describes a woman leaving the baby with a 9-year-old girl for approximately three hours, consistent with the grandmother's substantiated neglect finding. Her failure to provide appropriate supervision directly contributed to the circumstances of the child's death.
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The 90-day summary report documents prior CPS reports involving the infant's family. For the mother: "On January 25, 2020, the agency screened-in a CPS Report alleging physical abuse to the infant's now 1-year-old half-sibling by the mother." For the grandmother, there were multiple prior CPS reports dating back to 2007, including a substantiated allegation of physical abuse in June 2016. These predate the current incident and involve the infant's half-sibling and other relatives.
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the source material that are not fully addressed by the preceding questions. The news article reports that the woman (believed to be the grandmother) instructed a witness to lie to police: "One witness interviewed by police said she was told by the woman to lie to police and say that she, the witness, was supposed to be watching the two children." This indicates attempted obstruction and cover-up. Additionally, the 9-month-old infant was left in the sole care of a 9-year-old child for approximately three hours, and the physical abuse was substantiated against an "unnamed maltreater" rather than a specifically identified individual. The 9-year-old girl reported stepping on the baby's head, yet the agency attributed the physical abuse to an unnamed maltreater—suggesting the official investigation could not conclusively determine who inflicted the fatal injuries. Furthermore, despite the grandmother's extensive CPS history including a substantiated physical abuse allegation in 2016, the agency closed the case upon completion of the Initial Assessment after referring the family to community services.
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